title: Bone marrow stem cells.
abstract: The "mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)" are cells adherent in the bone marrow, which can be isolated to induce differentiation. In contrast to the "embryonic stem cells" whose goal is to develop a new organism, the "MSC adult stem cells" can participate in tissue growth and repair throughout postnatal life. Addition of 5-azacytidine to MSCs in vitro induces the gradual increase in cellular size and begins spontaneous beatings, thereafter differentiating into cardiomyocytes. The "Methods" and "Protocols" to induce structural and functional maturations of MSCs, thus to achieve "Cellular Cardiomyoplasty," are described. With appropriate media, differentiations of MSCs to various kinds of cells such as chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes are also achievable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Minh Ngoc
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ray C J
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats